Bridge score register



y 1939- N. M MURDO BRIDGE SCORE REGISTER Filed Jan. 12, 1937 GAME SECOND [mam GAME m 0 SECOND 'Jnncntor Nell McMurdo dim-neg Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a score keeping instrumentality which is particularly adapted for use in registering the scores of card games.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a score keeping device in the form. of a plurality of registers upon which, after a simple mental calculation, accumulated. scores may be duly indicated. In view of the number of divisional components of the score necessitated in i the more complex card games, the invention is devised for independent operation of certain groups of indicating units so that it may be used for various purposes, or, in the alternative, for the keeping of scores running into four or five l5 figures.

The invention is particularly devised for use in rubber bridge, where bonus and trick scores may be independently registered through a simple manipulation and with the aid of an indicating ac- :o cessory which is more specifically described in the accompanying specification and drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the score registering device;

25 Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3. The drawing illustrates a game registering device formed of two similar sections, each comprising a casing in and an attached cover II upon which the registering indicia are embossed, as hereinafter described. The sections are provided with hinge knuckles I2 connected by a removable pin #3, which permits the sections to be folded with their covers in superimposed and mutually protective relation.

Each cover is formed with a plurality of apertures or windows !5, through which the presently at) described dials of the registering mechanism are viewed. The windows are disposed in rows, the first row 16 having four windows and being utilized to indicate the total bonus score, and the remaining rows I! and I 8 having two windows 45 each and being utilized to disclose the trick scores in the first and second games of the rubher.

A plurality of registering units are mounted Within the casing l0, and they are each posi- 50 tioned to cooperate with an overlying row of windows. The unit for the row I 5 (Figs. 3 and 4) comprises an operating shaft 22 which is mounted for both axial and rotary movement in bearings 2| and 22, secured to the sides of the casing,

5 and a central bearing 23 whose base structure 24 is secured to the bottom of the casing. The shaft projects from the casing and it receives an operating knob 25 having numerals thereon ranging from 1 to 9 and in equal divisions. The portion of the cover immediately adjacent the knob is formed with a projecting indicator finger l3.

Four cylindrical dials 26, 21, 28, and 29, marked in the same manner as the knob 25, are disposed on the shaft 20, the first three dials being rotatably mounted on the shaft, while the dial 29 is rotatably mounted on a projecting hub portion 30 of the dial 28. The dials 21 and 29 are formed with large gear portions 27a and 29a. A clutch disc 32 is secured to the dial 26 and a similar 1 disc 33 is secured to the projecting hub 30 of the dial 28.

The dials 25 and 28 are adapted to be selectively driven by manipulation of the shaft through the operating knob 25. Clutch driving 20 members 34 and 35 are rigidly secured to the shaft 23, and they are engageable with the discs 32 and 33 respectively. Thus, when the shaft is shifted to the left the clutch driving member 34 engages the disc 32, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the knob is turned, the dial 26 is correspondingly rotated. During this operation the dial 28 remains unmoved, and it may be coupled and rotated with the shaft 20 by shifting the shaft to the right to engage the clutch 35 with the disc 33.

The clutch driven dials 26 and 28 are geared to their companion dials 2? and 29 respectively, so that upon each revolution of the former, the latter will be moved one-tenth of a revolution. The connection between the dial pair 26, 27 consists of a member 36 having a pinion 3'! and a gear 38 formed thereon, and disposed in meshing engagement with the gear portions 270. and 2601. respectively. The dial pair 28, 29 are connected 4 by a similar member 36, and both members are rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 39 which is engaged through a trifurcated pedestal 40 forming part of bearing structure 24. The pedestal is formed with a central boss 46 and bosses 41 and 45 48 which are spaced from the central boss 46 to receive the gear members 36. The bosses are suitably drilled to receive the shaft 39 which is riveted at opposite ends, as indicated by the numeral 49. 5

Inasmuch as only two dials are necessary for the windows of the rows l1 and IS, the dials 28,

29 and associated clutch structure are omitted, with the balance of the operating structure otherwise identical to the unit described.

When the knobs are released, it is desired that they be automatically restored to a zero reading with their indicating fingers l9. For this purpose, each shaft 29 is formed with a crank portion t2 provided with a strap 43. A light spring t l is secured between the strap and the bottom of the casing so that when the knob is released, the force applied to the crank by the spring will tend to rotate the shaft to the predetermined zero position. To prevent disturbance of the dials during this action, leaf springs &5 are provided, and they are secured to the casing and extend upward into frictional engagement with the discs 32 and 33.

In the use of the device for the keeping of scores in rubber bridge, the relatively small trick scores may be registered in the window rows ll and i8 by simply engaging and turning the knobs 25 under the guidance of the cooperative graduated scales thereon and indicating fingers [9. The bonus scores in the rows it may be similarly indicated, and, when such score runs into more than three figures, the left hand clutch may be engaged to operate the dials 28 and 29. In certain other types of card games, the split control of the dial pairs of each row 65 may be advantageously utilized for the maintenance of two separate scores.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the inventive principles may be applied in various other arrangements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A game score registering device comprising a casing, a registering unit mounted in the casing and including a bearing structure, an operating shaft mounted in the structure, dials mounted within the casing, clutch connections between the shaft and the dials, a crank formed on the shaft, a strap on the crank, and resilient means between the strap and casing for returning said shaft to a predetermined position when not in operation.

2. A game score registering device comprising a casing having spaced main bearings therein, a shaft projecting into the casing and carried by said bearings, a pair of dials rotatably mounted on the shaft, an intermediate bearing in the easing separating the dials, a clutch member secured to the shaft between each dial and the adjacent main bearing, a cooperating clutch facing on each of the dials, said shaft being axially movable to engage one of the clutch members with the facing of the adjacent dial, and friction means carried by the casing and constantly engaging the dials against unintended rotation when the clutch connection is disengaged.

3. A game score registering device comprising a casing having spaced bearing therein, a shaft projecting into the casing and rotatably carried by the bearin s, a dial rotatably mounted on the shaft, a clutch facing on the dial and a cooperating clutch member secured to the shaft, said shaft being axially movable to bring the facing and clutch member into operative relation, a graduated operating knob secured to the shaft exterior of the casing, automatic means for restoring the shaft to a predetermined rotary position upon release thereof, and friction means carried by the casing and constantly engaging the dial against unintended rotation when the clutch connection is disengaged.

NEIL MCMURDO. 

